The evolving dynamics of international peace and security

By Delia Chatoor

The nuclear age was born 80 years ago with the bombings of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, respectively. The world witnessed untold destruction and profound loss of life and infrastructure.

Although these bombings did not lead to the immediate cessation of hostilities, it is estimated that approximately 66,000 people died instantly in Hiroshima and 39,000 in Nagasaki with the death toll increasing over the years due to radiation poisoning and related complications among survivors.

These initial bombings led to a range of international efforts to control nuclear weapons, spearheaded through the United Nations (UN). In 1959, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for any state “possessing nuclear weapons at the time to refrain from sharing that technology with non-nuclear states.”

Although this resolution did not attract consensus, after much deliberations among a cadre of like-minded states—which recognised the damage of the proliferation of nuclear weapons—it eventually led to the adoption of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in 1968.

The NPT has achieved mixed results in its implementation. The growing instability of international relations and the realisation that any intentional or accidental detonation of a nuclear device could have serious and irreparable humanitarian consequences.

In 2017, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) was adopted, and by 2025, it has garnered 73 States Parties and 94 signatories. This treaty demonstrates growing opposition to nuclear weapons and the psychological impact their retention is having amid tenuous international climate.

Eight decades later, the international community remains cognisant of the risks posed by nuclear weapons, the increased expenditure devoted to the modernisation of nuclear weapons, the expansion of nuclear capabilities, and the introduction of new weapons systems.

Additional attention must also be paid to the continued use of explosive weapons in populated areas which have caused civilian harm. As armed conflicts and hostilities have shifted to urban regions, far from  so-called declared military targets, the principles of distinction and proportionality—acceptable in International Humanitarian Law (IHL)—have become difficult to uphold.

In his address to the members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See on Friday, May 16, 2025, Pope Leo XIV observed the need “to eliminate the root causes of all conflicts and every destructive urge for conquest.”

He added that the international community must work toward the cessation of “the production of instruments of destruction and death.” Mention was made of Pope Francis, in his Urbi et Orbi message on Sunday, April 20, 2025, where he stressed that peace cannot be possible without “true disarmament,” reminding us that defenceless civilians must never be targets. There would appear to be an escalation in armed conflicts throughout the world with no one appearing to see the virtue of peace and reconciliation. The leaders are rather in receipt of weapons from various sources and pay no heed to the well-tried tenets of IHL.

The growth in technology for the development of autonomous weapons systems (AWS) is witnessing their use to take lives without much human involvement. This signals a transformation of warfare with grave humanitarian consequences. Existing IHL and principles of human rights must therefore be reinforced—and, if warranted, new ones introduced in order to ensure “that humans retain control of life and death decisions.”

Eighty years after the mushroom clouds lingered over the international community, more technological advances continue to enhance the conduct of war. The time is more than ripe for all to commit to a mission of peace and reduce the diversion of human and financial resources from armaments and toward the urgent needs of the world’s most vulnerable. These populations continue to bear the brunt of the indiscriminate weapon use and deserve greater protection under IHL principles. Civil society, through its global networks, must continue to play a vital role as they carry the mantle of “the conscience of mankind.”

Delia Chatoor is a retired foreign service officer and a Lay Minister of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help, San Fernando Parish.